Family: ‘True Blood’ Actor’s Death Due To Alcohol Withdrawal Complications

July 10, 2017 6:19 PM

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 26: Actor Nelsan Ellis attends HBO's "True Blood" panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Nelsan Ellis’ family says the “True Blood” actor’s death was caused by heart failure due to alcohol-withdrawal complications.

The statement was released Monday to The Hollywood Reporter by Ellis’ manager, Emily Gerson Saines, on behalf of the family.

It said the actor tried to withdraw from alcohol by himself after years of failed rehab efforts. Ellis died Saturday in New York at age 39.

The actor was ashamed of his drug and alcohol abuse and reluctant to talk about it during his life, the statement said.

Ellis’ father, Tommie Lee Thompson, agreed to share the circumstances of his son’s death as a cautionary lesson that Ellis would have condoned.

During his withdrawal attempt, the statement said the actor suffered a blood infection, kidney failure and other crises.